First prom charity fashion show promises supersonic sparkle

Teenagers from local schools and young cancer survivors will be strutting their stuff under the wings of Concorde at the first spectacular charity prom themed fashion show, 'Runway on the Runway'.

The event at Manchester Airport’s Concorde Visitor Centre, taking place 21st March 2013, is the brain child of Cheshire mum of four, Margo Cornish who was inspired by a combination of her own daughters’ enthusiasm for attending prom and her work as a volunteer for the charity Make-A-Wish Foundation« UK working with teenage cancer patients.

Since the concept was created Margo has enlisted the support of big name stores, global fashion brands as well as top shoe, hair and make-up brands and local firms to stage the event free of any costs meaning every penny raised will go directly to the charities, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust and Medcare, the airports own charity.

“As a mother of healthy, vibrant teenagers I find it especially poignant meeting teenagers with cancer which is why I wanted to raise money and awareness of the issues they face by creating an event they could relate to,” explained Margo, producer of Runway on the Runway.

With prom as the theme, the event aims to grab the imagination of every teenage girl in Greater Manchester providing an ideal opportunity to raise awareness about the difficulties facing some of their peers who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Lucie Carrington, a former patient at the Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit at the Christie was diagnosed at 15 years old with Ewing’s sarcoma which is a rare bone and soft tissue cancer affecting her left arm. Lucie, now 23 years old and in full remission, is a healthy young woman actively involved in the Teenage Cancer Trust as well as playing a big part in Runway on the Runway.

Lucie said: “I was diagnosed in the middle of my GCSEs and the prospect of not being with my friends, who I had grown up with at our prom was devastating so when I heard about Runway on the Runway, I totally understood the concept. Prom has become an iconic part of teenage life and to use it as a hook to support both fundraising and creating awareness of those charities that supported me is an incredible idea, I’m thrilled to be part of it.”

A highlight of the evening will be a special runway featuring current and former young cancer patients, sponsored by Harvey Nichols. One of the models will be 15 year old Olivia Cork who recently lost her right leg to an aggressive form of bone cancer. Taking part in this event has given Olivia the motivation and determination to gain full mobility using her new artificial leg. This event is particularly special for Olivia, who is one of triplets as she will be attending her own prom in 2013.

Central to this unique event will be a catwalk under Concorde where models, recruited from local schools, will showcase the latest prom fashion from Lipsy, Forever Unique, Vicky Martin, BCBG Max Azria, Little Mistress, Sherri Hill, Mori-Lee, Ted Baker and Coast, as well as shoes by Kurt Geiger. Their make-up will be by Bobbi Brown and hair by Essensuals Toni & Guy. All participants who are modelling at the event will be treated to special master-classes on hair, make-up and runway technique.

There will be a competition for budding prom dress designers to create a prom dress with the finalists attending a special master class with Manchester designer, Vicky Martin who will coach them on how to take their designs from the drawing-board to the cutting room. There will even be the chance to have their own designs modelled on the catwalk during the event.

Margo, who used to work as a Senior HR Manager in the NHS, said: “Runway on the Runway isn’t just about making one night when Manchester will sparkle, the next six months leading up to the event will provide opportunities for teenagers to learn new skills. Today’s employment market for young people has never been so challenging. For any young person wanting to aim for a career in retail, fashion, beauty or design, their involvement in Runway on the Runway will surely give their CV the X factor.”

Applications are currently being taken for schools in Greater Manchester to get their students involved in the event until the middle of November. To find out more details on Runway on the Runway visit www.runwayontherunway.co.uk.

ENDS

For more information, please contact the Manchester Airport press office on 0161 489 2700 or press.office@manairport.co.uk.

Notes

Photography and HD video footage of models practicing catwalk on Manchester Airport’s second runway plus interviews with Margo Cornish, Lucie Carrington and Olivia Cork are available on request. E-brochure also available. Visit www.runwayontherunway.co.uk and www.facebook.com/runwayontherunway for more details.

Please note that Make-A-Wish does not use phrases such as ‘terminally ill’ in order to respect the sensitive nature of life-threatening conditions and what they mean to children and young people and their families. We would ask that this approach is followed and that the term ‘life-threatening conditions’ is used in material for publication.

Make-A-Wish should be referred to as Make-A-Wish Foundation« UK in the first instance. Thereafter ‘Make-A-Wish’ or ‘Make-A-Wish Foundation’ is suitable. We would ask that you try to keep ‘Make-A-Wish’ on the same line.

Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. The charity was founded in the UK in 1986. Registered charity number: 295672/SC037479 www.make-a-wish.org.uk.